Europe braces for massive Covid surge…Austria locks down un-vaccinated… Germany, Norway, Belgium reinstate behavior modification. . .Mar from Spain joins Tony with analysis.
In this special edition of VTA, Batya Ungar-Sargon joins Tony to discuss journalism’s decline. Discover if democracy can survive without it.
Iraq’s PM house is attacked by drones. PM survives. Nobody claims responsibility. Will US military intervene? Yonadam Khanna joins Tony from Baghdad.
Facebook changes its name to Meta. Is this a tactical move in its war with sovereign governments? Tony and Adam offer analysis in the Change Is Hard segment. Oguz in Istanbul tells Tony about Biden's meeting today with Erdogan. Kamran from Iran offers analysis of Iran's interest in restarting nuclear talks.
China displays hypersonic weapons that surprise the US. Riki Ellison joins Tony from Guam to discuss how the US will respond to China’s military advancements. Turkey’s Erdogan declares the US ambassador persona non grata. Oguz in Istanbul tells Tony why Turkey’s president is expelling the ambassador.
Italy imposes the most comprehensive Covid vaccine mandate program in the free world. Alberto from Rome tells Tony why the mandate is happening and if Italians support it. A British MP is murdered while meeting with constituents. Mark from the UK explains how divisiveness is growing in the UK and may result in curtailing democracy.
Today on Change Is Hard, podcast host Joe Rogan takes CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta to task over ivermectin, Southwest Airlines gaslights America and the US is giving reparations to the Afghani family killed in a drone strike.
China escalates its efforts to bring Taiwan back under Chinese rule. Riki Ellison joins Tony to discuss China’s strategy and what the US plan is to defend Taiwan. Raziya from Afghanistan updates Tony on life under the Taliban. Iraqi MP Yonadam Khanna joins Tony from Baghdad on election day. Find out how US foreign policy will be impacted by Iraq’s new government.
Massood updates Tony on the status of life under Taliban rule. Find out why it’s almost impossible to leave the country. Cesar from Honduras tells Tony how large numbers of migrants from all over the world are moving through his country on their way to the US.
Haitian migrants elevate the US border crisis. Why are so many Haitians at the border? And why is Biden outlawing mounted border patrol? Garaudy from Haiti joins Tony. Germany holds elections to decide Merkel’s replacement. Mark in Europe tells Tony that Merkel’s exit shifts power across the EU.
Today on Change Is Hard we're discussing border patrol on horseback, Kamala Harris' latest giggle fit and Justin Trudeau trips over his own wokeness.
Biden cuts nuke sub deal with Oz, triggering a massive diplomatic spat with France. Does this deal help the US against China? Riki Ellison offers analysis. Canada votes tomorrow and polls are too close to call. Lorrie from Toronto tells Tony why Justin Trudeau may have erred in calling elections.
VTA’s voices from around the world reflect on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Raziya from Afghanistan joins Tony for the 1st time with an update on the Taliban rule and American exit.
Is Afghanistan the graveyard of empires? Yuri from Russia tells Tony how the Soviet war in Afghanistan led to the collapse of the USSR, and what lessons the US may take after its exit. Kamran from Iran offers analysis on how Biden’s exit from AF-PAK resets the nuclear negotiations.
One of VTA’s longest-serving voices tells Tony how he fled Kabul after the Taliban knocked on his door. Kareem from Egypt offers analysis of how the US military blunders will impact its strength throughout the Middle East. Hear from the Chinese ambassador to Afghanistan on how his country is reacting to the US exit.
Massood in Kabul updates Tony on his attempts to flee Afghanistan. Tawfik, a reformed terrorist, offers analysis of the Taliban and if it’s possible for them to ‘reform.’ Rashed in Pakistan tells Tony why Pakistan is declaring victory in Afghanistan. Mark from the UK explains how Biden’s actions impact the ‘Special Relationship.’
Biden orders 5,000 troops to evacuate embassy in Kabul as Taliban win America’s longest war. Massood in Kabul tells Tony how the Afghan & U.S. grossly underestimated the Taliban. Hilaly in Pakistan tells Tony how Pakistan is preparing for likely humanitarian crisis as Afghans flee country.
Italy is the latest nation to require vax passports to conduct basic activities. Alberto in Rome tells Tony how Italians are reacting. Jorge from Cuba speaks with Tony about the popularity of socialism in the U.S.
Nations around the globe implement varying degrees of behavior modification in reaction to the Delta variant. Paul in Sydney tells Tony that the army is going door-to-door to enforce lockdowns. Mar in Spain says parts of Europe are requiring citizens to ‘show their papers’ in public. Protests are growing in intensity and violence. Is the government helping or hurting? VTA special report.
Delta variant prompts governments around the globe to try new behavior modifications. Vaccine passports, tracking devices, booster shots and lockdowns are all being implemented. Francois from Paris joins Tony to discuss France’s new vaccine passport program. Yonadam in Baghdad tells Tony why Iraq is requiring US troops to redefine their mission.
Cubans stage large public protests. Government uses force to suppress citizens. Is change coming to Cuba or will the uprising peter out? Humberto from Cuba offers analysis. France now requires vax passports for any public engagement, including bars and restaurants. Should the US expect the same? Hear reaction from Paris.
FBI and DHS sent to Haiti after assassination of president. Interim PM wants US military also. Will the US fully engage in Haitian politics? Haitian Garoudy offers analysis. Europe shutting down due to Delta. Mar in Spain tells Tony why mixed messages are causing problems.
The US unofficially ends The Af-Pak War. Massood in Kabul tells Tony that he expects the Taliban to soon resume control and that his country will revert to where it was 20 years ago. The Delta variant sweeps Europe. Mar in Spain says lockdowns are returning.
Biden hosts Afghan leaders, declares early exit from America’s longest war. Taliban continue to gain territory inside Afghanistan. Is Afghanistan set to return to pre-9/11 society? Hilaly from Pakistan talks to Tony. The Delta Covid variant from India spreads across the globe. The US and Europe predict it will become dominant strain. Israel reports that Delta escapes Pfizer vax. Mar in Spain tells Tony that the EU is inching closer to lockdowns.